pathogens Flashcards
(15 cards)
What are pathogens?
Disease causing microorganisms
What are examples of infectious pathogens?
Bacteria, viruses and fungi
What is it called when a pathogen is transferred from one individual to another?
Transmission
What are the two ways a pathogen can cause disease?
Tissue damage and release of toxins
What are two characteristics of viruses?
Acellular and non-living
What do viruses not contain?
Nucleus, organelles, cell surface membrane, cytoplasm
What will a virus always contain?
Genetic material (DNA or RNA), a capsid and attachment proteins
What does a virus sometimes contain?
An envelope
What is the only way viruses can replicate?
Through host cells
How do viruses attach to the specific host cells?
Through their attachment proteins/glycoproteins which are complementary to the receptors on the host cells
What is the next step to viral replication?
They inject their nucleic acid into host cells
What is the genetic material used for?
To code more virus particles which are produced using the organelles of the host’s cell
What does this involve producing copies of?
The viral nucleic acids and proteins
What are these used for?
To form complete viruses
How are they released?
By lysis of the cell
